Camera



H. F. McMAHON.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1918.

,369,753. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

HGI

INVENTOR bimwr F Mc Mano/v,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed November 6, 191B.- 8er1'a1 1T0. 281,407.

provide a camera with means to prevent more than one exposure of the same portion of a sensitized medium therein, and it is exemplified herein by a camera of the type wherein a strip of sensitized film, for a series of pictures, is unwound from one spool onto another. Said camera includes mechanism for so interlocking the film and a button which is pushable to expose said film, that when said button has been pushed it is detained in inoperative position until the film strip is moved for another exposure, and when said strip has been-thus moved,

it is detained until again exposed. Such construction and arrangement is advantageous in that if the take-up spool resists turning movement, the operator may know that the portion of film presented for ex-- posure has not been exposed, and if the push utton resists movement, the operator may know that the portion of film presented has been exposed, and that it is necessary to turn the take-up spool. Said camera includes a spring actuated take-up spool,

whereb the film may be automatically shifted to t e extent of its portion exposed, as a consequence of the exposing movement of said push button or other element, by which such exposure is effected.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawing; Figure I is a fragmentary perspectiveview of parts of a camera embodying my improvement.

Fig. II is a fragmentary edge view of the film strip illustrated in Fig. I, showing the position thereof while passing to the locked position.

Fig: III is a fragmentary perspective view showing a film strip provided with a modified form of locking means.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. I and II: The film strip 1 is supplied upon the spool 2, and passes thence over the guide rollers 3 and 4 to the take-up spool 5, which may have the a ring actuated drum 6, by which said fifm stri is automatically shifted in the direction 0 the arrow marked thereon in Fig. I, when released. However, said-spool 5 is provided with the axial recess 7 for engagement with an ordmary winding handle, so that it may be manually turned, in the direction of the arrow marked thereon.

As shown in Fig. I;.'said film strip 1 is provided with means to lock it against lengthwise movement, including perforatlons 9 which are so spaced throughout its length that the portion of the film between successive perforations is sufiicient for. a single exposure. As shown in Fig. I; said film 1. is locked against lengthwise movement by the detent plunger 10 projectin through one of said perforations 9. Sai detent plunger 10 is carried and operated by the locking lever 11, which is fulcrumed upon the stud 12 rigidly connected with the casing in which .said spools and guide .rollers are j ournaled. Said lever 11 is provided with the spring 1 1, conveniently a piece of wire encircling said stud 12 and having one end engaging said lever, and. tending to swlng it downwardly, as indicated by the arrow on said lever. However, said lever 11 is held stationary, in the locked position shown in Fig. I, by engagement with the stem 15 of the push button 16, which extends through a hole 17 in said lever. Said stem 15 is held in the locking position shown in Fig. I by the opposite end of said spring 14 which tends to shift said push button in the direction of the arrow marked on said stem.

Said push button 16, may be associated with any suitablemechanism for effecting the exposure of the portion of the film 1 presented, as above described, to wit, the portion between the lines 19, 19, which may coincide with said perforations 9. For instance, such mechanism may include an automatic shutter operable by the lever 21 when shifted in the'direction of the arrow mark ed thereon in Fig. I. When said push button is thrust in the direction opposite to that of the arrow marked on its stem 15 in Fig. I, against the pressure of said spring 14, to

effect the exposure, the reduced portion 23 of said stem is presented in said hole 17 so that said lever 11- is then swung downwardly bysaid spring 14 to withdraw the detent plunger 10 from the perforation 9 in said film stripl, and thus permit the latter to be pro ressed in the direction of the arrow mar ed thereon in Fig. I. Such movement of said lever 11 causes it to engage said push button stem 15, at its reduced portion 23, and thus locks said push button 16 and prevents its return to the operative position shown in Fig. I; which return movement would, otherwise, be automatically effected by sald spring 14: However, as the take-up spool 5 is turned to progress said film strip 1 1n the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. I, the eccentric lug 25, which pro ects therefrom in position to encounter the end of said lever 11, raises said lever, agalnst the pressure of said s ring 14, and, when said lever reaches its 1m locking positlon, shown in Fig. I, it releases said stem 15 so that the latter is automatically returned by said s ring 14, to the position shown in Fig. owever, as such return of the lever 11 may be effected before the next succeeding perforation 9 in the film strip 1 is in position to receive said locking plunger 10, said strip is temporarily upheld by sald-plunger, from its normal plane shown in full lines in Fig. I and in dotted lines in Fig. II. Said film 1. is'held in such unlocked position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. I and in full lines in Fig. II, against the tension upon said strip incident to its movement by said spool 55; said spool 2 being provided, as usual, with a friction spring at its journal in the camera casing, which resists its turning movement to such a degree as to maintain the film strip 1 taut.

Although, as soon as the succeeding perforation 9 registers with said locking plunger 10, the tension of said film snaps it into locked position thereon, with a sound which is audible to the operator, I find it convenient to provide the camera casing 26 with a small window, conveniently covered with ruby colored pyrolin, in registry with said plunger 10, as indicated in Fig. II, so that the operator may see whether the film strip 1 is in locked position or not.

Therefore, it may be observed, that with the embodiment of my invention above described, the film locking lever 11 is immovably locked in engagement with the film, so as to prevent movement of the latter, when the push button 16 is in operative position, to effect an exposure of the portion of the film then presented. Moreover, after each exposure is effected, by movement of said push button 16, it is locked in inoperative position until released by movement of said locking lever 11, consequent upon movement of the film to remove the exposed portion thereof from the osition in which it might be again exposed. Consequently, if said take-up spool 5 resists turning movement, the operator may know that the portion of the film strip 1 presented for exposure has not been exposed, and if said push button '16 resists movement, the operator may know that the portion of film presented has been exposed, and that it is necessary to turn the take-up spool.

It is to be understoodthat said s ring drum 6 may be omitted from the taiie-up spool 5; so that the film stri 1 is only progressed when said spool is manually turned. Moreover, although I find it convenient to provide the film strip with locking means including the circular erforations 9, as above described, it is to e understood that other means may be employed, for instance, the film strip 27 shown in Fig. III has marginal notches 28, in such spaced relation as the perforations 9 aforesaid and ada ted to be engaged by a locking detent 29.

erefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

clalm:

1. In a camera, the combination with two spools arranged to engage a film strip at its respectively opposite ends; of means arranged to turn said spools to progress a film from one to the other; means arranged to lock said film against such movement, including a reciprocatory detent movable to successively engage a series of openings in said film a lever rigidly connected with said detent; a push button movable to effect exposure of said film; means connected with said push button, arranged to prevent movement of said detent until said push button is moved to expose said film, including a stem on said button arranged to reciprocate through an opening in said lever, and having a recessed portion adapted to register with said lever; means connecting said detent and push button arranged to prevent the return of said push button to its operative position, until the film is progressed to remove the exposed portion thereof from the region where its exposure might be again effected, including a single spring connecting said ush button and lever, tending to hold said iever in the recess in said stem; means arran ed to release said detent and permit said lm to be progressed, including a projection, rigidly connected with one of said spools, arranged to shift said lever when said spool is turned; and spring actuated means, operatively connected with the spool having said projection, whereby said film maybe automatically progressed when said detent is released.

2. In a camera, the combination with two spools arranged to engage a film strip at its respectively opposite ends; of means arranged to turn said spools to progress a film from one to the other; means arranged tolock said film against such movement, in-;

cluding a' reciprocatory detentmovable to successlvely engage a series of openings n said film; a lever connected with said detent;

a push button movable to'efi'ect exposure of SBJd' film; means connected .with' said push button, arranged to prevent movement of said detent untilsaid push button is moved to expose said film, including a-stem on said button arranged to reciprocate through an opening in sald lever, and having a recessed portion adapted to register with said lever; 'means connecting said detent and push button arranged to preventthe return of said push button to'its o erative position, until recess in said'stem; and means arranged to release said detent and permit said film to be progressed, including a rojection rigidly connected with one of said spools, arranged to shift said lever when said spool is turned.

3. Ina camera, the combination with two spools arranged to engage a film strip at its respectively opposite ends; of means arranged. to turn said spools to progress a film from one to the other; means arranged to lock said film againstsuch movement, including a detent movable to successivelv engage a series of openin sin saidfilm; a lever connected with said etent; a ush button movable to efiect exposure 0 said film; means connected with said push button, arranged to prevent movement ofsaid detent until said push button is moved to expose: said film, including a member arrangedto reciprocate through an opening in said lever, and having a recessed portion adapted to re ister with said lever; means connecting said detent and push'button arranged to prevent the return of said push button to its operative position, until the film is progressed to remove the exposed portionthereof from the region where its exposure mi ht be again eifected,including. a spring ten ing to hold said lever in said recessed portion; vand means arranged to release said detent and permit said film to be progressed, including a member connected with one of said spools, arranged to shift said lever when said spool is turned.

4. In a camera, the combination with two spools arranged to engage a film strip at its respectively opposite ends; of means arranged to turn said spools to progress a film from-one to the other; means arranged to lock said film against such movement, including a vdetent movable to successively engage a series of openings. in said film; it ever connected with said detent; a ush button movable to effect exposure 0 said film;

means connected with said push button, ar-

M" ed to prevent movement of said detent I unti said push button is moved to-expose said film, including a stem on said button having a recessed portion adapted to register with .saidlever'; means connectingsaid detent and ush button arranged-to prevent the return 0' said push button to its operative position, until the film is progressed to re-' move the exposed portionthereof from the re ion-where its exposure might be again e ected, including. a single spring connect- 'ing said push button jand lever, tending to hold both said-detent in, engagement with said film and said lever in the recess in said stemyand means arran' ed .to release said detent and permit said-fi m to be progressed,

including means arranged to shiftsaid lever when one of said spools is turned.

5. In a camera, the combination with two spools arranged to engage a film strip at its res ective y opposite ends; of means arrange to turn saidspools to progress a film from one to the other; means arrangedto lock said film against such movement, including a reciprocatory'detent movable to successively engage :a series of openin s in said film; a lever connected with sai detent; a push button movable to effect exing a recessed portion adapted to register [with said lever; and means connecting said detent andpush button arranged to prevent the return of said push button to its operative position, until the film is progressed to remove the exposed portion thereof from thecregion where its exposure might be again 6. In a camera, thelcombination with two spools arran' ed to engage a film strip at its res ective y opposite ends; of means arrange to turnsaid spools to progress a film from one to the other; means arranged to lock said film against'such movement, including areciprocatory detent movable to successively engage .a series of openings in said film; a lever connected with said detent; a push button movable to effect exposure of said film; means connected with said push' button, arranged to prevent movement of said detent until said push buttonis'moved to expose said film, including a stem on said button having a recessed portion adapted to register with said lever; and means connecting said detent. and push button arranged to button to its operative position, until the film is progressed to remove the exposed portion thereof from the region where its .ex osure might be again effected.

. In a. camera, means arranged to' lock revent the return ofsaid push detent movab ainst movement, including a e to successively engage a series of o enings in said film; a lever connected Wit said detent; a push button movable to effect exposure of said film; means connected with said push button, arranged to prevent movement of said detentuntil said push button is moved to expose said film, moluding a stem on said button having a recessed portion adapted to register with said lever; and means connecting said detent and push button arranged to prevent the return of said ush button to its operative po sition, until t e film is pro ressed to remove the exposed portion thereo? from the region Where its exposure might be again effected.

8. In a camera, means arranged to look a film strip against movement, including a dea film strip a tent movable tosuccessively engage a series of openings in said film; a levericonnected I with said detent; a ush button movable to efli'eot exposure of said film; and means connected with said push button, arran ed to prevent movement of said detent untll said push button is moved to expose said film, including a stem on said button having a rece'ssed portion adapted to register with said lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Toronto, Canada this all 15th day of September, 1918,

' HARRY F. MOMAHON.

Witnesses L. W. Beam, V. Pamsm 

